Libra

Libra begins at the autumn equinox, when day and night stand equal for a moment before the nights grow longer. Its symbol, the Scales, is the only one in the zodiac that is not a living creature. The sign inclines toward balance, courtesy, fairness and the art of relating — seeing the other side, smoothing the way, making things harmonious and beautiful. Its gift is diplomacy; its difficulty can be indecision, or keeping the peace at the cost of saying what it wants.

Element, mode and polarity

Libra is an Air sign of the cardinal mode. Air gives it a social, thoughtful cast; the cardinal mode means it initiates — above all, it starts relationships and agreements. It is masculine (active) and diurnal. Its fellow Air signs are Gemini and Aquarius; its fellow cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer and Capricorn.

Rulership and dignities

• Domicile: Venus; Lilly calls Libra her "chief house" (Taurus is the other).
• Exaltation: Saturn, traditionally at 21° Libra.
• Detriment: Mars, whose home Aries lies opposite.
• Fall: the Sun, opposite its exaltation in Aries.

Venus rules Libra in both traditional and modern astrology.

In a chart

Planets in Libra tend to work through others and to weigh how their actions land. The Moon here often needs harmony around it to feel at ease; Mercury inclines to see every side of an argument; Venus, at home, favours charm, taste and a gift for partnership. Mars, in detriment, may find direct conflict uncomfortable and push its case through negotiation. The Sun, in fall, can look to others for its sense of self before learning to stand on its own. Saturn, exalted, inclines toward a strong sense of justice and lasting commitments. The house with Libra on its cusp is often where a person seeks cooperation and fairness. With Libra on the Ascendant, Venus becomes the chart ruler, and the person often seems pleasant, poised and attentive to others.

The tradition

Ptolemy names Libra one of the two equinoctial signs and, with Aries, masculine and diurnal, since the equinoctial circle through them "completes the primary and most powerful movement" of the heavens. He explains Saturn's exaltation here: where the Sun's heat diminishes, cold increases. Lilly calls Libra "aeriall, hot and moyst, sanguine, masculine, moveable, equinoctiall, cardinall, humane, diurnall", of the airy triplicity and the West. It governs the kidneys, loins and lower back. Its places are high, airy ones — hillsides and mountaintops, ground near windmills, workshops where wood is cut, and in a house the upper rooms and garrets. Lilly describes a well-framed, straight, slender body and a round, lovely face. Its colour is black, dark crimson or tawny; among its cities he names Lisbon and Vienna. The Air triplicity is ruled by Saturn by day and Mercury by night.

In the tarot

The Golden Dawn's correspondences, which most English-language decks follow.

Major Arcana: Justice

Its three decans: Two of Swords (Moon, 0°–10°), Three of Swords (Saturn, 10°–20°), Four of Swords (Jupiter, 20°–30°)

Suit: Swords (Air)

Related

• Aries, the opposite sign
• Venus, its ruler
• Seventh House, its natural house
• Air · Cardinal